Merative (formerly IBM)

Main article: IBM Watson Health

History

2022

The emergence of a new IBM Watson Health-based company

Investment firm Francisco Partners announced on July 6, 2022, the completion of a deal to acquire healthcare data and analytics assets that were part of IBM's Watson Health division. The deal created a new standalone company called Merative and will be headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States.

As stated in the press release, Merative brings together market-leading offerings that deliver value to the global healthcare ecosystem by serving customers in life sciences, service providers, imaging, health insurers, employers, and government health and social services agencies.

A new company has appeared on the basis of IBM Watson Health

Experienced Health Director General Jerry McCarthy was appointed to lead the new organization. McCarthy has worked in information technology in health care for 30 years, most recently serving as CEO of eSolutions, a portfolio company of Francisco Partners that moved to Waystar in October 2020. Prior to eSolutions, Jerry was president of TransUnion Healthcare and an executive at McKesson. Paul Roma, CEO of Watson Health's division, is moving to a position as senior adviser to Francisco Partners.

Merative products will be organized into six product families, including Health Insights, MarketScan, Clinical Development, Social Program Management, and Phytel, Micromedex, and Merge Imaging solutions. Investment by Francisco Partners will provide Merative with significant resources and opportunities for new investments, acquisitions, partnerships and growth.

Francisco Partners is excited to partner with Merative's team and employees to help them fulfill their mission of providing technology and expertise to healthcare customers with industry-leading data and analytics solutions, said Ezra Perlman and Justin Chen of Francisco Partners. We appreciate IBM's work to grow this business and our participation will help Merative focus on implementing organic and inorganic growth strategies.[1]

Francisco Partner bought Watson Health

In mid-January 2022, IBM announced the sale of Watson Health Unit to global investment firm Francisco Partners. The financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The deal is expected to close in the second quarter of 2022.

Under the agreement, Francisco Partners will acquire specific medical data and analytical assets that are part of Watson Health's business. These include datasets and products such as Health Insights, MarketScan, Clinical Development, Social Program Management, Micromedex, and imaging software.

Francisco Partner bought Watson Health

Francisco Partners plans to consolidate these assets, creating a standalone company that will be managed by existing management. The new company will serve existing biosciences clients, healthcare providers, imaging, and public health and social services clients.

We have followed IBM's development in medical data and analytics for several years and highly value its portfolio of innovative healthcare products, "said Francisco Partners Co-Chairman Ezra Perlman.

IBM Software Senior Vice President Tom Rosamilia noted that the agreement with Francisco Partners is an obvious stage in IBM's development, as the company plans to further focus on hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence strategies.

IBM remains committed to Watson, our broader AI business, and the customers and partners we support in healthcare IT. Through this deal, Francisco Partners is acquiring data assets and analytics that will benefit from expanded investments and expertise focused on the healthcare industry, "he explained.[2]